Glen Cavenaugh Jones - A Faithful Servant
1924 - 2004

Glen was born September 21, 1924 in Temple, Texas to James Edward Jones and Vallie Lee Strange Jones. He lived in the same small region of Texas until his death, serving God and helping others.

He was not a minister, because the quiet Christian sect to which he belonged, a most fundamentalist Church of Christ, has no paid ministers. Each qualified adult male takes his turn delivering the Lesson at services, and Glen spoke often.

In 1946 and he married Estelle Marie Rodgers and they had five children, with whom this writer grew up, climbing trees and having fun. It is difficult to write in depth about a person seen only from a distance, so I asked for family favorite stories. Estelle said:

"In the 1960s there was a cranky old farmer that lived across the river from our place. If anybody got close to his land, he would say something cross to them. One day our eight-year-old girl was riding her little pony beside the road by his field. He happened to drive by, stopped, and bawled her out for being on "his" property. He had no friends. One Sunday morning, as we were on our way to Church, we came upon this man on the side of the road. Two bales of hay had fallen out of his pick-up. Glen stopped, jumped out of the car, and picked each bale up and put it back in his pickup. The man was so surprised that anyone would stop and help him. He said, "You should not do that!" That was the way Glen was, whether enemy or friend, he was always willing to help."

Even the most peaceful and dedicated people have to earn a living, and Glen worked as a Plant Assigner for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company from 1946 until 1985. In keeping with his beliefs, during this time he refused to strike in strict adherence to Bible teaching, and suffered having his tires slashed and being pelted with foul names and rocks. Nevertheless, he stood fast.

During World War II when many religious men became Conscientious Objectors, Glen found a way to serve without a weapon by becoming a Medic.

Glen was tireless in spreading the Word of Peace, taking it to the prison system, where he would visit, talk, and teach. He made a forceful impact, and after the prisoners were released, some of them were welcomed into the Church, found wives, and were re-integrated into society on a very personal level.

The Church of Christ uses no musical instruments in worship services, so hymns are sung by the congregation in four-part harmony, and this particular group made glorious music. Glen's voice was the firm basis of the singing.

His brother, Jack Jones, shares with us a definitive closure:

"Glen had a beautiful, distinct, mellow bass singing voice. He had a perfect sense of rhythm and pitch. His voice was strong, but not overpowering. He sat at about the center of the congregation of the Church (in more ways than just physically).

I think that no one was actually aware of it until after he went Home, but those in the back of the congregation "keyed" on his beautiful bass voice, and those in the front of the congregation "keyed" on it from the front. As a consequence, we sang remarkably together as though we were a small group in a small room.

Since he left for Glory, the congregation has never achieved that togetherness in our song service. We miss it awfully. And, we miss him tremendously. But, there is little doubt that the Angels around The Throne of the Most High in Heaven, have delighted to welcome a very beautiful, mellow bass voice to their chorus of praise to The Father Up There." Bon Appetit!

Glenda Glayzer